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Opportunities for all

Race Equality First (REF) is an independent charity which is working with others to make equality real for people in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

The organisation offers a range of services including free confidential advice & support to victims of racial discrimination/ racial harassment and advice, training and information relating to equalities, diversity and participation to public, private and voluntary sector organisations.

A major focus of the organisation’s work is offering advice to victims of racism and working with employers from all sectors to ensure that they have effective race equality and diversity policies in place.

Shelagh Maher, REF Information Officer said: ‘Despite the wealth of antiracism legislation, racial discrimination and racial harassment is still an issue for people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. In the year ending March 2007, REF dealt with 181 complaints of racial discrimination and or racial harassment and the majority of these related to employment cases’.

One recent case involved a victim (X) who had been racially harassed at work. X put in a grievance about the harassment but took no further action and the grievance was not upheld. X then went off sick and submitted another grievance about his supervisor. With the help of REF and his Union, X appealed the original decision not to uphold his grievance. His employers offered a settlement of £18,000. X accepted this and resigned.

The law on racial discrimination is complicated and victims will need expert advice and help in preparing and presenting their cases. It might also be quite costly as legal aid for representation at employment tribunal hearings is not available. People living or working in Cardiff or the Vale of Glamorgan can contact REF’s Legal Team for advice on the strength of their case. REF offers free, confidential, independent advice to victims of racism who live or work in these counties.

Simon Pathé, REF Principal Legal Officer said, “As well as advising victims we work in partnership with organisations from a range of sectors to promote equality and the casework we do helps to inform the way that we develop these partnerships”

In another move towards equality, REF recently set up an outreach project to improve the employment prospects of refugees and economic migrants to ensure that they are able to fulfil their potential, contribute to the economy and integrate into society.

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